Touch sensor and display device including the same

ABSTRACT

A touch sensor includes a base layer, first touch sensor columns, second touch sensor columns, and sensing lines. The base layer includes a sensing region and a non-sensing region. The first touch sensor columns extend in a first direction. The first touch sensor columns include first touch electrodes. The first touch electrodes include sub-touch electrodes in the sensing region. The second touch sensor columns include second touch electrodes in the sensing region. The second touch sensor columns are alternately arranged with the first touch sensor columns. The sensing lines are in the non-sensing region. The sensing lines include: first sensing lines electrically connected to the sub-touch electrodes, and second sensing lines electrically connected to the second touch electrodes. The sub-touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes have different widths.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2017-0091991, filed Jul. 20, 2017, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a touch sensor, and, more particularly,to a touch sensor capable of improving a touch recognition rate and adisplay device including the touch sensor.

DISCUSSION

Recent display devices have been developed to include an informationinput function along with an image display function. The informationinput function of the display devices may be generally implemented by atouch sensor for receiving user input. The touch sensor may be attachedto one surface of a display panel that displays an image or beintegrally formed with the display panel. A user may input informationby pressing or touching the touch sensor while viewing an imagedisplayed by the display panel.

The above information disclosed in this section is only forunderstanding the background of the inventive concepts, and, therefore,may contain information that does not form prior art.

SUMMARY

Some exemplary embodiments provide a touch sensor capable of improving atouch recognition rate.

Some exemplary embodiments also provide a display device including thetouch sensor.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concepts.

According to some exemplary embodiments, a touch sensor includes a baselayer, first touch sensor columns, second touch sensor columns, andsensing lines. The base layer includes a sensing region and anon-sensing region. The first touch sensor columns extend in a firstdirection. The first touch sensor columns include first touchelectrodes. The first touch electrodes include sub-touch electrodes inthe sensing region. The second touch sensor columns include second touchelectrodes in the sensing region. The second touch sensor columns arealternately arranged with the first touch sensor columns. The sensinglines are in the non-sensing region. The sensing lines include: firstsensing lines electrically connected to the sub-touch electrodes, andsecond sensing lines electrically connected to the second touchelectrodes. The sub-touch electrodes and the second touch electrodeshave different widths.

According to some exemplary embodiments, a display device includes adisplay panel and a touch sensor disposed on at least one surface of thedisplay panel. The touch sensor includes a base layer, first touchsensor columns, second touch sensor columns, and sensing lines. The baselayer includes a sensing region and a non-sensing region. The firsttouch sensor columns extend in a first direction. The first touch sensorcolumns include first touch electrodes. The first touch electrodesinclude sub-touch electrodes in the sensing region. The second touchsensor columns include second touch electrodes in the sensing region.The second touch sensor columns are alternately arranged with the firsttouch sensor columns. The sensing lines are in the non-sensing region.The sensing lines include: first sensing lines electrically connected tothe sub-touch electrodes, and second sensing lines electricallyconnected to the second touch electrodes. The sub-touch electrodes andthe second touch electrodes have different widths.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concepts, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display deviceincluding a touch sensor according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the display device shown in FIG.1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a display panel shown in FIG. 1according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating one pixel amongpixels shown in FIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of a display panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor layer shown in FIG. 2according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line sectional I-I′ of FIG. 6according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along sectional line II-II′ of FIG. 6according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a first sensor column shown in FIG. 6according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor block shown in FIG. 9according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of region EA2 of FIG. 9 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of region EA1 of FIG. 6 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating side signal of a sub-touch electrodeadjacent to one sub-touch electrode according to change in width of theone sub-touch electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating variation in capacitance between onesub-touch electrode and a second touch electrode according to change inwidth of the one sub-touch electrode according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor layer according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of region EA3 of FIG. 15 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor layer according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of region EA4 of FIG. 17 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along sectional line III-III′ of FIG.18 according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments. Further, various exemplary embodiments may be different,but do not have to be exclusive. For example, specific shapes,configurations, and characteristics of an exemplary embodiment may beimplemented in another exemplary embodiment without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someexemplary embodiments. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, thefeatures, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions, aspects,etc. (hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as“elements”), of the various illustrations may be otherwise combined,separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or“coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected to, orcoupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.When, however, an element is referred to as being “directly on,”“directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, thereare no intervening elements present. To this end, the term “connected”may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection. Further, theDR1-axis and the DR2-axis are not limited to two axes of a rectangularcoordinate system, and may be interpreted in a broader sense. Forexample, the DR1-axis and the DR2-axis may be perpendicular to oneanother, or may represent different directions that are notperpendicular to one another. For the purposes of this disclosure, “atleast one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one selected from the groupconsisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only,or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z, such as, for instance,XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. may be used hereinto describe various elements, these elements should not be limited bythese terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element fromanother element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed asecond element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one element's relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrationsof idealized exemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. In this manner, regions illustrated in the drawings areschematic in nature and shapes of these regions may not illustrate theactual shapes of regions of a device, and, as such, are not intended tobe limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display deviceincluding a touch sensor according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 isa schematic sectional view of the display device shown in FIG. 1according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustratinga display panel shown in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the display device DD may include a displaypanel 100 and a touch sensor 200.

The display panel 100 may display an image. The display panel 100 is notparticularly limited. For example, self-luminescent display panels, suchas an organic light emitting display panel (OLED panel) may be used asthe display panel 100. In addition, a non-luminescent display panel,such as a liquid crystal display panel (LCD panel), an electrophoreticdisplay panel (EPD panel), and an electro-wetting display panel (EWDpanel), etc., may be used as the display panel 100. When anon-luminescent display panel is used as the display panel 100, thedisplay device DD may include a backlight unit (not shown) that supplieslight to the display panel 100. Herein, a case where the OLED panel isused as the display panel 100 is described as an example.

The display panel 100 may include a substrate SUB including a displayregion DA and a non-display region NDA.

A plurality of pixels PXL may be provided in the display region DA onthe substrate SUB. Each pixel PXL may be any one of a red pixel, a greenpixel, a blue pixel, and a white pixel, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, each pixel PXL may be any one of a magentapixel, a cyan pixel, and a yellow pixel.

The non-display region NDA of the substrate SUB may be disposed at atleast one side of the display region DA, and be disposed along thecircumference of the display region DA. A pad unit (not shown), in whichpads of lines are provided, and a data driver DDV that provides a datasignal to the pixels PXL may be provided in the non-display region NDA.The data driver DDV may provide the data signal to each of the pixelsPXL through data lines DL (see FIG. 4). Here, the data driver DDV may bedisposed at a lateral part of the non-display region NDA, and extendlong along a second direction DR2 of the non-display region NDA.

For convenience of description, a scan driver, an emission driver, and atiming controller are not illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the timingcontroller, the emission driver, and the scan driver may also beprovided in the non-display region NDA, or otherwise connected to thedisplay panel 100.

The substrate SUB may be made of an insulative material havingflexibility. The substrate SUB may be provided in the substantially sameshape corresponding to the shape of the touch sensor 200. The substrateSUB may be provided to have an area equal to that of the touch sensor200 or to have an area larger than that of the touch sensor 200.

The substrate SUB may include a plurality of signal lines (not shown)connected to the plurality of pixels PXL and a plurality of transistors(not shown) connected to the plurality of signal lines.

Each of the plurality of pixels PXL may be an organic light emittingdisplay element including an organic layer. However, the disclosure isnot limited thereto, and the pixel PXL may be implemented in variousforms, such as a liquid crystal display element, an electrophoreticdisplay element, an electro-wetting display element, etc. Each of theplurality of pixels PXL is a minimum unit for displaying an image, andmay be provided in plurality on the substrate SUB. In an exemplaryembodiment, the pixel PXL may include an organic light emitting displayelement that emits white light and/or colored light.

As described above, each pixel PXL may include the plurality of signallines, the plurality of transistors, and the organic light emittingdevice. A representative pixel PXL will be described later.

The touch sensor 200 may be disposed on at least one of both surfaces ofthe display panel 100. For example, the touch senor 200 may be disposedon a surface of the display panel 100 in the direction in which an imageof the display panel 100 is emitted, to receive a touch input of a user.Also, the touch sensor 200 may be integrally formed with the displaypanel 100. For instance, the touch sensor 200 may be grown on a surfaceof the display panel 100 utilizing any suitable manufacturing technique,e.g., a deposition-based technique, a coating technique, etc. In otherwords, an adhesive may not be disposed between the touch sensor 200 andthe display panel 100. In an exemplary embodiment, a case where thetouch sensor 200 is provided on an upper surface of the display panel200 is described as an example.

The touch sensor 200 may include a touch sensor layer 210 disposed onthe upper surface of the display panel 100 and an insulating layer 230disposed on the touch sensor layer 210.

The touch sensor layer 210 may recognize a touch event from the displaydevice DD through a finger of a user or a separate input means, e.g.,stylus, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor layer 210 maybe driven using a mutual capacitance method. In the mutual capacitancemethod, a change in capacitance, caused by an interaction between twotouch electrodes, is sensed. In addition, the touch sensor layer 210 maybe driven using a self-capacitance method. In the self-capacitancemethod, when a user touches a region, a change in capacitance of a touchelectrode in the touched region is sensed using touch electrodesarranged in a matrix shape and sensing lines connected to the respectivesensing electrodes.

The touch sensor layer 210 may include the touch electrode, the sensingline connected to the touch electrode, and a pad unit connected to oneside of the sensing line. The touch sensor layer 210 will be describedlater.

The insulating layer 230 may cover the touch sensor layer 210 andfunction to protect the touch sensor layer 210 from the outside. In someexemplary embodiments, the insulating layer 230 may include a materialhaving elasticity and be deformed by a touch pressure of the user. Inthis case, the touch sensor layer 210 may additionally include apressure electrode that forms a capacitor together with the touchelectrode.

The touch sensor 200 may further include a window 250 disposed on theinsulating layer 230.

The window 250 may be made of a transparent material. The window 250 mayprotect the exposed surface of the touch sensor 200. The window 250allows an image from the display panel 100 to be transmittedtherethrough, and simultaneously reduces impact from the outside so thatit is possible to prevent the display panel 100 from being damaged orerroneously operated due to the impact from the outside. Here, theimpact from the outside refers to a force from the outside, such asstress, which can cause a defect of the display panel 100. The whole ora least a portion of the window 250 may have flexibility.

FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram illustrating one pixel among thepixels shown in FIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment. Forconvenience of description, one pixel PXL and lines connected to thepixel are mainly illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each pixel PXL may include a transistorconnected to lines, a light emitting element OLED connected to thetransistor, and a capacitor Cst. The light emitting element OLED may bea top emission type organic light emitting element, a bottom emissiontype organic light emitting element, or a top and bottom type organiclight emitting element. The organic light emitting element may be anorganic light emitting diode.

Each pixel PXL may include a first transistor (or switching transistor)T1, a second transistor (or driving transistor) T2, and the capacitorCst, which constitute a pixel driving circuit for driving the lightemitting element OLED. A first power voltage ELVDD may be transmitted tothe second transistor T2 through a power line PL, and a second powervoltage ELVSS may be transmitted to the light emitting element OLED. Thesecond power voltage ELVSS may be set as a voltage lower than the firstpower voltage ELVDD.

The first transistor T1 outputs a data signal applied to a data line DLin response to a scan signal applied to a gate line GL. The capacitorCst charges a voltage corresponding to the data signal received from thefirst transistor T1. The second transistor T2 is connected to the lightemitting element OLED. The second transistor T2 controls a drivingcurrent flowing through the light emitting element OLED, correspondingto an amount of electric charges.

In an exemplary embodiment, a case where one pixel PXL includes twotransistors T1 and T2 is described. However, the disclosure is notlimited thereto, and one transistor and one capacitor may be included inone pixel PXL, or three or more transistors and/or two or morecapacitors may be included in one pixel PXL. For example, one pixel PXLmay include seven transistors and the light emitting element OLED, andthe capacitor Cst.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of a display panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the display panel 100 may include a substrate SUB,a pixel circuit unit PCL, a display element layer DPL, and a thin filmencapsulation layer TFE.

The substrate SUB may be made of an insulative material, such as glassor resin, however, any suitable material may be utilized. Also, thesubstrate SUB may be made of a material having flexibility to bebendable or foldable, e.g., intentionally bendable or foldable withoutsignificant deterioration of designed characteristics, e.g., supportivecharacteristics. The substrate SUB may have a single or multi-layeredstructure.

For example, the substrate SUB may include at least one of polystyrene,polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethersulfone,polyacrylate, polyetherimide, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethyleneterephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide,polycarbonate, triacetate cellulose, and cellulose acetate propionate.However, the material constituting the substrate SUB may be variouslychanged, and the substrate SUB may be made of fiber glass reinforcedplastic (FRP), or the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the substrateSUB may be made of a material having flexibility.

The pixel circuit unit PCL may include a buffer layer BFL disposed onthe substrate SUB and first and second transistors T1 and T2 disposed onthe buffer layer BFL.

The buffer layer BFL may prevent (or reduce) impurities from beingdiffused into the first and second transistors T1 and T2. The bufferlayer BFL may be provided in a single layer, but may be provided in amulti-layer structure including at least two layers. When the bufferlayer BFL is provided in the multi-layer structure, the layers may beformed of the same material or may be formed of different materials. Thebuffer layer BFL may be omitted according to the material and processconditions of the substrate SUB.

The first transistor T1 may be a switching transistor for switching ofthe second transistor T2. The second transistor T2 may be a drivingtransistor electrically connected to a light emitting element OLED ofthe display element layer DPL to drive the light emitting element OLED.

The first transistor T1 may include a first semiconductor layer SCL1, afirst gate electrode GE1, a first source electrode SE1, and a firstdrain electrode DE1. The second transistor T2 may include a secondsemiconductor layer SCL2, a second gate electrode GE2, a second sourceelectrode SE2, and a second drain electrode DE2.

The first and second semiconductor layers SCL1 and SCL2 may be disposedon the buffer layer BFL. The first and second semiconductor layers SCL1and SCL2 may include source regions and drain regions, which are incontact with the first and second source electrodes SE1 and SE2 and thefirst and second drain electrodes DE1 and DE2, respectively. A regionbetween the source region and the drain region may be a channel region.Each of the first and second semiconductor layers SCL1 and SCL2 may be asemiconductor pattern made of poly-silicon, amorphous silicon, oxidesemiconductor, etc. The channel region is a semiconductor patternundoped with impurities, and may be an intrinsic semiconductor. Thesource region and the drain region are semiconductor patterns doped withthe impurities. The impurities may include impurities, such as an n-typeimpurity, a p-type impurity, and other metals.

The first gate electrode GE1 may be disposed on the first semiconductorlayer SCL1 with a gate insulating layer GI interposed therebetween. Thesecond gate electrode GE2 may be disposed on the second semiconductorlayer SCL2 with the gate insulating layer GI interposed therebetween.Here, the gate insulating layer GI may be an inorganic insulating layerincluding an inorganic material. The inorganic material may includepolysiloxane, silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, andthe like.

The first source electrode SE1 and the first drain electrode DE1 may bein contact with the source region and the drain region of the firstsemiconductor layer SCL1 through contact holes passing through aninterlayer insulating layer ILD and the gate insulating layer GI,respectively. The second source electrode SE2 and the second drainelectrode DE2 may be in contact with the source region and the drainregion of the second semiconductor layer SCL2 through contact holespassing through the interlayer insulating layer ILD and the gateinsulating layer GI, respectively. The interlayer insulating layer ILDmay be an inorganic insulating layer made of an inorganic material or anorganic insulating layer made of an organic material.

The pixel circuit unit PCL may further include a passivation layer PSVdisposed over the first and second transistors T1 and T2 to cover thefirst and second transistors T1 and T2. The passivation layer PSV may aninorganic insulating layer made of an inorganic material or an organicinsulating layer made of an organic material.

The display element layer DPL may include the light emitting elementOLED disposed on the passivation layer PSV. The light emitting elementOLED may include a first electrode AE, a second electrode CE, and anemitting layer EML disposed between the first and second electrodes AEand CE. Here, any one of the first electrode AE and the second electrodeCE may be an anode electrode, and the other of the first electrode AEand the second electrode CE may be a cathode electrode. For example, thefirst electrode AE may be an anode electrode and the second electrode CEmay be a cathode electrode. When the light emitting element OLED is atop emission type organic light emitting element, the first electrode AEmay be a reflective electrode, and the second electrode CE may be atransmissive electrode. In an exemplary embodiment, a case where thelight emitting element OLED is a top emission type organic lightemitting element, and the first electrode AE is an anode electrode andthe second electrode CE is a cathode electrode is described as anexample.

The first electrode AE may be connected to the second source electrodeSE2 of the second transistor T2 through a contact hole passing throughthe passivation layer PSV. The first electrode AE may include areflective layer (not shown) capable of reflecting light and atransparent conductive layer (not shown) disposed on the top or bottomof the reflective layer. At least one of the transparent conductivelayer and the reflective layer may be electrically connected to thesecond source electrode SE2.

The display element layer DPL may further include a pixel defining layerPDL including an opening OP that exposes a portion of the firstelectrode AE, e.g., an upper surface of the first electrode AE,therethrough. The pixel defining layer PDL may include an organicinsulating material. For example, the pixel defining layer PDL mayinclude at least one of polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI), polyarylether(PAE), heterocyclic polymer, parylene, epoxy, benzocyclobutene (BCB),siloxane based resin, silane based resin, etc.

The emitting layer EML may be disposed on the exposed surface of thefirst electrode AE. The emitting layer EML may include a low-molecularor high-molecular material. In an exemplary embodiment, thelow-molecular material may include copper phthalocyanine (CuPc),N,N′-Di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB),tris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq₃), and/or the like. Thehigh-molecular material may include poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene(PEDOT)-, poly(phenylene-vinylene) (PPV)-, and/or poly(fluorine)-basedmaterials.

The emitting layer EML may be provided as a single layer, but may beprovided as a multi-layer structure including various functions. Whenthe emitting layer EML is provided as a multi-layer structure, theemitting layer EML may have a structure in which a hole injection layer,a hole transport layer, an emission layer, an electron transport layer,an electron injection layer, and the like are stacked in a single orcomplex structure. The disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto,and the emitting layer ELM may have various structures. In addition, atleast a portion of the emitting layer ELM may be integrally formedthroughout or in association with, e.g., on, a plurality of firstelectrodes AE, or may be individually provided to correspond to each ofthe plurality of first electrodes AE. The color of light generated in(or by) the emitting layer EML may be one of red, green, blue, andwhite, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the colorof light generated in a light generation layer of the emitting layer EMLmay be one of magenta, cyan, and yellow.

The second electrode CE may be disposed on the emitting layer EML. Thesecond electrode CE may be a semi-transmissive reflective layer. Forexample, the second electrode CE may be a thin metal layer having athickness, through which light emitted through the emitting layer EMLcan be transmitted. The second electrode CE may transmit a portion ofthe light emitted from the emitting layer EML therethrough, and mayreflect the rest of the light emitted from the emitting layer EML.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be provided over the lightemitting element OLED.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be provided in a single layer,but may be provided in a multi-layer structure. The thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may include a plurality of insulating layersthat cover the light emitting element OLED. For instance, the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may include one or more inorganic layers and/orone or more organic layers. For example, the thin film encapsulationlayer TFE may have a structure in which the inorganic layers and theorganic layers are alternately stacked. As another example, the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE may include more inorganic layers thanorganic layers, or vice versa. In some exemplary embodiments, the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE may be an encapsulating substrate that isdisposed over the light emitting element OLED and is joined with thesubstrate SUB through a sealant.

Although not illustrated, the display panel 100 may also include one ormore functional layers between the second electrode CE and the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE, such as a capping layer, an optical layer, etc.One or more of the functional layers may be formed of an organic,inorganic, metal oxide, etc., materials.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the touch sensor layer shown in FIG.2 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sectional view takenalong sectional line I-I′ of FIG. 6 according to an exemplaryembodiment. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along sectional line II-II′of FIG. 6 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan viewillustrating a first sensor column shown in FIG. 6 according to anexemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensorblock shown in FIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11 isan enlarged view of region EA2 of FIG. 9 according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6 to 11, the touch sensor layer 210 may includea base layer BL including a sensing region SA and a non-sensing regionNSA.

The base layer BL may be made of an insulative material havingflexibility. The base layer BL may be provided in the substantially sameshape corresponding to the shape of the display panel 100. In anexemplary embodiment, the base layer BL may be a portion of the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel 100. For instance, thebase layer BL may be an inorganic layer disposed as the uppermost layerof the thin film encapsulation layer TFE.

The sensing region SA may correspond to the display region (see DA ofFIG. 3) of the display panel 100, and may be substantially provided inthe same shape as the display region DA. The non-sensing region NSA maybe disposed adjacent to the sensing region SA. Also, the non-sensingregion NSA may correspond to the non-display region (see NDA of FIG. 3)of the display panel 100.

A plurality of touch sensor blocks TSB may be arranged in the sensingregion SA, and a plurality of sensing lines SL and a pad unit PD may bearranged in the non-sensing region NSA.

The touch sensing blocks TSB may define a plurality of sensor columnsSC1 to SC4 and/or define a plurality of sensor rows SR1 to SR3. Each ofthe plurality of sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may include a plurality oftouch sensor blocks TSB arranged in a first direction DR1 (e.g., acolumn direction). Each of the plurality of sensor rows SR1 to SR3 mayinclude a plurality of touch sensor blocks TSB arranged in a seconddirection DR2 (e.g., a row direction) intersecting the first directionDR1. In FIG. 6, it is illustrated that the touch sensor blocks TSB arearranged in a matrix form, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Each of the plurality of sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may include a firsttouch sensor column TSC1 including a plurality of first touch electrodesTE1 arranged along the first direction DR1 and a second touch sensorcolumn TSC2 including a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2arranged along the first direction DR1. The first touch sensor columnTSC1 and the second touch sensor column TSC2 may be alternately arrangedin the sensing region SA.

Each first touch electrode TE1 may include a plural number, e.g., i (iis a natural number of 2 or more) sub-touch electrodes disposed to bespaced apart from each other. For example, one first touch electrode TE1may include three sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3. The threesub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may include a first sub-touchelectrode STE1, a second sub-touch electrode STE2, and a third sub-touchelectrode STE3. Here, the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1,STE2, and STE3 may be sequentially arranged along the extendingdirection of the first touch sensor column TSC1. That is, among thefirst to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3, the firstsub-touch electrode STE1 may be disposed most distant from the pad unitPD, and the third sub-touch electrode STE3 may be disposed closest tothe pad unit PD.

The first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may beconnected to a corresponding sensing line SL. For instance, the first tothird sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may be electricallyconnected to first sensing lines SL1 of the sensing lines SL. The firstsensing lines SL1 may be disposed between the first touch sensor columnTSC1 and the second touch sensor column TSC2. The first to thirdsub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may be connected to first tothird sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 corresponding to anadjacent first touch electrode TE1 on the same first touch sensor columnTSC1 through the first sensing lines SL1.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first sensing lines SL1 may includefirst sensing lines SL1_1, SL1_2, and SL1_3 of which the number is equalto that of sub-touch electrodes provided in the first touch electrodeTE1. For example, if one first touch electrode TE1 includes threesub-touch electrodes, e.g., the first to third sub-touch electrodesSTE1, STE2, and STE3, the first sensing lines SL1 may include threefirst sensing lines SL1_1, SL1_2, and SL1_3. Here, the three firstsensing lines SL1_1, SL1_2, and SL1_3 may include a (1-1)-th sensingline SL1_1, a (1-2)-th sensing line SL1_2, and a (1-3)-th sensing lineSL1_3.

As shown in FIG. 9, when three first touch electrodes TE1 each includingthree sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and ST3 are arranged on the firsttouch sensor column TSC1, the connection relationship between the firstsensing lines SL1 and the first touch electrodes TE1 may be as follows,but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

A first sub-touch electrode STE1 of a first touch electrode TE1 disposedat an upper side of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may be connectedto a third sub-touch electrode STE3 of a first touch electrode TE1disposed at the center of the first touch sensor column TSC1 through acorresponding (1-1)-th sensing line SL1_1. In addition, the thirdsub-touch electrode STE3 of the first touch electrode TE1 disposed atthe center of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may be connected to afirst sub-touch electrode STE1 of a first touch electrode disposed at alower side of the first touch sensor column TSC1 through a corresponding(1-3)-th sensing line SL1_3. In addition, the first sub-touch electrodeSTE1 of the first touch electrode TE1 disposed at the lower side of thefirst touch sensor column TSC1 may be connected to a corresponding padSL_P of the pad unit PD through a corresponding (1-1)-th sensing lineSL1_1.

A second sub-touch electrode STE2 of the first touch electrode TE1disposed at the upper side of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may beconnected to a second sub-touch electrode STE2 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the center of the first touch sensor columnTSC1 through a corresponding (1-2)-th sensing line SL1_2. In addition,the second sub-touch electrode STE2 of the first touch electrode TE1disposed at the center of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may beconnected to a second sub-touch electrode STE2 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the lower side of the first touch sensorcolumn TSC1 through a corresponding (1-2)-th sensing line SL1_2. Inaddition, the second sub-touch electrode STE2 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the lower side of the first touch sensorcolumn TSC1 may be connected to a corresponding pad SL_P of the pad unitPD through a corresponding (1-2)-th sensing line SL1_2.

A third sub-touch electrode STE3 of the first touch electrode TE1disposed at the upper side of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may beconnected to a first sub-touch electrode STE1 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the center of the first touch sensor columnTSC1 through a corresponding (1-3)-th sensing line SL1_3. In addition,the first sub-touch electrode STE1 of the first touch electrode TE1disposed at the center of the first touch sensor column TSC1 may beconnected to a third sub-touch electrode STE3 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the lower side of the first touch sensorcolumn TSC1 through a corresponding (1-1)-th sensing line SL1_1. Inaddition, the third sub-touch electrode STE3 of the first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the lower side of the first touch sensorcolumn TSC1 may be connected to a corresponding pad SL_P of the pad unitPD through a corresponding (1-3)-th sensing line SL1_3.

The (1-1)-th to (1-3)-th sensing lines SL1_1, SL1_2, and SL1_3 mayextend from the sensing region SA to the non-sensing region NSA alongthe first direction DR1.

The second touch sensor column TSC2 may include q (q is a natural numberof 2 or more) second touch electrodes TE2. The second touch electrodesTE2 may be arranged in the extending direction of the second touch senorcolumn TSC2. The second touch electrodes TE2 may be electricallyconnected to second sensing lines SL2 of the sensing line SL. The numberof the second sensing lines SL2 corresponding to the second touchsensing column TSC2 may be equal to that of the second touch electrodesTE2. In an exemplary embodiment, the number of the second sensing linesSL2 corresponding to the second touch sensor column TSC2 may be q. Forexample, when three second touch electrodes TE2 are arranged on (or in)the second touch sensor column TSC2, the number of the second sensinglines SL2 may be three. For instance, the second sensing lines SL2 mayinclude a (2-1)-th sensing line SL2_1 connected to a second touchelectrode TE2 disposed at an upper side of one second touch sensorcolumn TSC2, a (2-2)-th sensing line SL2_2 connected to a second touchelectrode TE2 disposed at the center of the second touch sensor columnTSC2, and a (2-3)-th sensing line SL2_3 connected to a second touchelectrode TE2 disposed at a lower side of the second touch sensor columnTSC2.

One of the first touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodesTE2, e.g., the first touch electrodes TE1, may be touch drivingelectrodes that receive a touch driving signal, and the other of thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2, e.g.,the second touch electrodes TE2, may be touch receiving electrodes thatoutput a touch sensing signal. The touch sensor layer 210 may recognizea touch of a user by sensing a variation dCm in mutual capacitance(hereinafter, referred to as “Cm”) formed between the first touchelectrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2.

The first touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 maysense a change in mutual capacitance Cm from a touch input of an object,such as a portion of the body of the user, a stylus pen, etc. Inaddition, the first touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodesTE2 may include a conductive material to sense a change in mutualcapacitance Cm. For example, the conductive material may include metals,alloys thereof, a conductive polymer, a conductive metal oxide, and/orthe like.

In an exemplary embodiment, examples of the metals may be copper,silver, gold, platinum, palladium, nickel, tin, aluminum, cobalt,rhodium, iridium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, manganese, molybdenum,tungsten, niobium, tantalum, titanium, bismuth, antimony, lead, and/orthe like. Examples of the conductive metal oxide may be indium tin oxide(ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), antimony zinc oxide (AZO), indium tinzinc oxide (ITZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (SnO₂), and/or the like.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first touch electrode TE1 and the secondtouch electrode TE2 may be provided in a single layer or a multi-layerstructure. Examples of the conductive polymer may bepolythiophene-based, polypyrrole-based, polyaniline-based,polyacetylene-based, and/or polyphenylene-based compounds, mixturesthereof, and the like. For example, a PEDOT/PSS compound among thepolythiophene-based compounds may be used as the conductive polymer. Theconductive polymer is easily prepared and has flexibility higher thanthat of the conductive metal oxide, e.g., ITO. Hence, the probabilitythat cracks will occur in bending can be reduced.

The first sensing lines SL1 and the second sensing lines SL2 maytransmit the change in mutual capacitance Cm, which is sensed by thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2, to anexternal circuit (not shown) through the pad unit PD. Also, like thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2, thefirst sensing lines SL1 and the second sensing lines SL2 may include aconductive material.

An insulating layer 230 may be provided over the first sensing linesSL1, the second sensing lines SL2, the first touch electrodes TE1, andthe second touch electrodes TE2.

The second touch electrodes TE2 may include a plurality of conductivefine lines CFL as shown in FIG. 11. For example, the second touchelectrodes TE2 may include a plurality of first conductive fine linesCFL1 that extend in the second direction DR2 and are parallel to oneanother, and a plurality of second conductive fine lines CFL2 thatextend in the first direction DR1 and are parallel to one another. Dueto the first conductive fine lines CFL1 and the second conductive finelines CFL2, each of the second touch electrodes TE2 may have a meshstructure. The mesh structure may include a plurality of openings, e.g.,regions formed as the first conductive fine lines CFL1 and the secondconductive fine lines CFL2 intersect each other.

In FIG. 11, it is illustrated that each of the second touch electrodesTE2 has the mesh structure, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.For example, each of the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2,and STE3 may also include the plurality of conductive fine lines CFL.

When the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 andthe second touch electrodes TE2 have the mesh structure, the area inwhich the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 andthe second touch electrodes TE2 overlap with the display panel 100 maybe decreased by the openings. If the area in which the first to thirdsub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 and the second touchelectrodes TE2 overlap with the display panel 100 is decreased, it ispossible to prevent (or reduce) electromagnetic interference between thefirst to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 and secondtouch electrodes TE2 and the display panel 100. Thus, the touchrecognition rate of the touch sensor layer 210 can be improved.

The first conductive fine lines CFL1 and the second conductive finelines CFL2 may include at least one of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and any alloythereof. Also, the first conductive fine lines CFL1 and the secondconductive fine lines CFL2 may include a transparent conductive oxide.Also, the first conductive fine lines CFL1 and the second conductivefine lines CFL2 may be provided in a multi-layer structure including twoor more conductive layers.

The first touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 maybe provided on the display panel 100. For instance, the first touchelectrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 may be disposed onthe thin film encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel 100. Thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 may beprovided in the same layer. In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of thethin film encapsulation layer, e.g., an inorganic layer disposed as theuppermost layer, may be the base layer BL. Therefore, the first touchelectrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 may be provided inthe same layer on the base layer BL.

In addition, the first sensing lines SL1 and the second sensing linesSL2 may also be provided on the display panel 100. For instance, thefirst sensing lines SL1 and the second sensing lines SL2 may be disposedon the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. The first sensing lines SL1and the second sensing lines SL2 may be provided in the same layer. Thatis, the first and second sensing lines SL1 and SL2 may be provided inthe same layer on the base layer BL.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second sensing lines SL1 andSL2 may be provided in the same layer as the first touch electrodes TE1and the second touch electrodes TE2. Accordingly, a one-layer type touchsensor layer 210 can be implemented. As described above, if the firstand second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 and the first and second sensinglines SL1 and SL2 are provided in the same layer, the manufacturingprocess of the touch sensor layer 210 can be simplified, and themanufacturing cost of the touch sensor layer 210 can be reduced.

Also, in an exemplary embodiment, the numbers of the first and secondtouch electrodes TE1 and TE2 and the first and second sensing lines SL1and SL2 may be decreased through a combination of the first and secondtouch electrodes TE1 and TE2. For example, the combination of the firstand second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 may be configured by allowingthe second touch sensor column TSC2 to include a plurality of secondtouch electrodes TE2 and performing matching such that three sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 into which each of the second touchelectrodes TE2 is divided are adjacent to each other. Accordingly, thenumber of the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 is minimizedwithin a range where the resolution of the display device is ensured sothat the number of the first and second sensing lines SL1 and SL2 can beeffectively decreased.

The pad unit PD may include a plurality of pads SL_P. The pads SL_P maybe electrically connected to the first touch electrodes TE1 and thesecond touch electrodes TE2 through the first sensing lines SL1 and thesecond sensing lines SL2.

A contact line CL electrically connected to the first sensing lines SL1and a third sensing line SL3, which connects the contact line CL and thepad unit PD, may be disposed in the non-sensing region NSA. The contactline CL may be provided in a number equal to that of sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 provided in one first touch electrodeTE1. That is, i contact lines CL may be provided. In an exemplaryembodiment, the contact line CL may be provided with three contact linesCL. The contact line CL may be electrically connected to a correspondingpad SL_P of the pad unit PD through the third sensing line SL3.

The third sensing line SL3 may be provided in a number equal to that ofthe contact lines CL. That is, i third sensing lines SL3 may beprovided. The i third sensing lines SL3 may be connected tocorresponding contact lines CL through contact holes.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of region EA1 of FIG. 6 according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 12, the touch sensor layer 210 may include abase layer BL, first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 provided in asensing region SA of the base layer BL, and first and second sensinglines SL1 and SL2 corresponding to the first to fourth sensor columnsSC1 to SC4.

Each of the first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may include afirst touch sensor column (see TSC1 of FIG. 9) having first touchelectrodes TE1 and a second touch sensor column (see TSC2 of FIG. 9)having second touch electrodes TE2. The first touch sensor column TSC1and the second touch sensor column TSC2 may be alternately disposed inthe sensing region SA. Therefore, the first touch electrodes TE1 and thesecond touch electrodes TE2 may also be alternately disposed in thesensing region SA.

The first touch electrode TE1 may include first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 sequentially arranged along a firstdirection DR1. The first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, andSTE3 may be connected to the first sensing lines SL1. The second touchelectrodes TE2 may be connected to the second sensing lines SL2.

In an exemplary embodiment, a unit sensor US may be configured with acombination of one region of the second touch electrode TE2 connected toone second sensing line SL2 and one sub-touch electrode adjacentthereto. For instance, one sub-touch electrode disposed on the firsttouch sensor column TSC1 and one region of one second touch electrodeTE2 disposed adjacent to the right side and/or the left side of the onesub-touch electrode may constitute one unit sensor US. For example, asshown in FIG. 12, one unit sensor US may be configured with acombination of a second sub-touch electrode STE2 and one region of onesecond touch electrode TE2 disposed adjacent to the left side of thesecond sub-touch electrode STE2. In addition, one unit sensor US may beconfigured with a combination of the second sub-touch electrode STE2 andone region of one second touch electrode TE2 disposed adjacent to theright side of the second sub-touch electrode STE2. The positions of thefirst and second sensing lines SL1 and SL2 connected to the unit sensorUS may be changed depending on the position of the unit sensor US.

In some exemplary embodiments, the lateral and longitudinal lengths ofeach unit sensor US may be substantially equal or similar to each other.

A mutual capacitance Cm may be formed between the second touch electrodeTE2 and each of the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, andSTE3, which are disposed adjacent to each other. When a touch input of auser occurs, the magnitude of the mutual capacitance Cm between thesecond touch electrode TE2 and each of the first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3, which are disposed in the region inwhich the touch input occurs, is changed, and the touch input may besensed by detecting a variation dCm in mutual capacitance Cm. Forexample, when a second sub-touch electrode STE2 of a first touchelectrode TE1 disposed at the center of the second sensor column SC2 istouched by a conductive rod 300 (including a finger of a user, a styluspen, or the like), the magnitude of a mutual capacitance Cm between thesecond sub-touch electrode STE2 and a second touch electrode TE2disposed adjacent thereto may be changed. The touch sensor layer 210 maysense a touch input caused by the conductive rod 300 by detecting avariation dCm in mutual capacitance Cm.

In an exemplary embodiment, the size of each of the first to thirdsub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 and the size of the secondtouch electrode TE2 may be designed to be different from each other. Forexample, the size of the second touch electrode TE2 (or a portion of thesecond touch electrode TE2 forming a portion of a unit sensor US) may besmaller than that of each of the first to third sub-touch electrodesSTE1, STE2, and STE3. In this case, the first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may have the same size.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second touch electrode TE2 may have a firstwidth W1 in a second direction DR2, and the second sub-touch electrodeSTE2 may have a second width W2 in the second direction DR2. The firstwidth W1 and the second width W2 may be different from each other. Forexample, the second width W2 may be larger than the first width W1.Consequently, the width of each of the first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 in the second direction DR2 may belarger than that of the second touch electrode TE2 in the seconddirection DR2. In FIG. 12, it is illustrated that only the secondsub-touch electrode STE2 has the second width W2, but the disclosure isnot limited thereto. Like the second sub-touch electrode STE2, the firstto third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may be designed tohave the second width W2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first width W1 may be approximately halfof the second width W2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the ratio of the first width W1 to the second width W2 may beapproximately 1:1.6 to 1:2.6.

Herein, for convenience of description, a second sub-touch electrodeSTE2 of a first touch electrode TE1 disposed at the center of the firstsensor column SC1 is designated as a first Tx electrode STE2/Tx1(hereinafter, referred to as “Tx1”), and a second sub-touch electrodeSTE2 of a first touch electrode TE1 disposed at the center of the secondsensor column SC2 is designated as a second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2(hereinafter, referred to as “Tx2”). In addition, a second sub-touchelectrode STE2 of a first touch electrode TE1 disposed at the center ofthe third sensor column SC3 is designated as a third Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx3 (hereinafter, referred to as “Tx3”), and a second sub-touchelectrode STE2 of a first touch electrode TE1 disposed at the center ofthe fourth sensor column SC4 is designated as a fourth Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx4 (hereinafter, referred to as “Tx4”).

When the second Tx electrode Tx2 is touched by the conductive rod 300, amutual capacitance Cm formed between the second Tx electrode Tx2 and asecond touch electrode TE2 adjacent thereto may be changed. Forinstance, the second Tx electrode Tx2 directly touched (e.g., isdisposed under the touch point of the conductive rod 300) by theconductive rod 300 may become a maximum node (Max node) at which thevariation dCm in capacitance Cm is largest.

When the second Tx electrode Tx2 is touched by the conductive rod 300, aside signal may be formed between the conductive rod 300 and each of Txelectrodes adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2, e.g., the first Txelectrode Tx1 and the third Tx electrode Tx3. The side signal mayinclude a mutual capacitance Cm between the conductive rod 300 and thefirst Tx electrode Tx1 and a mutual capacitance Cm between theconductive rod 300 and the third Tx electrode Tx3 when the second Txelectrode Tx2 is touched by the conductive rod 300. The side signal maybe used to recognize continuity of a touch input when the conductive rod300 is moved along one direction on the touch sensor layer 210, e.g.,when the touch input is continuously performed (e.g., a dragging touchinteraction).

If the distance between the conductive rod 300 and the first Txelectrode Tx1 and the distance between the conductive rod 300 and thethird Tx electrode Tx3 decrease, the side signal at the second Txelectrode Tx2 may increase. In other words, if the distance between thesecond Tx electrode Tx2 located at the Max node and the first Txelectrode Tx1 adjacent thereto and the distance between the second Txelectrode Tx2 and the third Tx electrode Tx3 adjacent thereto decrease,the side signal may increase. That is, the side signal at the Max nodemay increase. When the side signal increases at the Max node, a touchinput of the conductive rod 300, which is continuously performed, isrecognized without stop such that the accuracy of a touch recognitionrate can be improved.

In a conventional touch sensor layer in which the first to fourth Txelectrodes Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, and Tx4 have the first width W1 that is equalto the width of the second touch electrode TE2, the distance betweenadjacent Tx electrodes may be large as compared with the touch sensorlayer 210 according to various exemplary embodiments. Also, inconventional touch sensor layers, if one Tx electrode is touched by theconductive rod 300, the distance between a Tx electrode adjacent to thetouched Tx electrode and the conductive rod 300 may be large as comparedwith the touch sensor layer 210 according to various exemplaryembodiments. Therefore, a side signal formed between the conductive rod300 and a Tx electrode adjacent to the touched Tx electrode maydecrease. If the side signal decreases, the touch coordinate of a regionin which a touch input is caused by the conductive rod 300 may not becalculated or determined. For instance, a continuously performed touchinput may not be recognized.

Accordingly, in various exemplary embodiments, the width of each of thefirst to fourth Tx electrodes Tx1 to Tx4 is designed to be larger thanthat of the second touch electrode TE2 so that the distance betweenadjacent Tx electrodes can be decreased as compared with conventionaltouch sensor layers. Thus, when the second Tx electrode Tx2 is touchedby the conductive rod 300, the distance between the first Tx electrodeTx1 adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2 and the conductive rod 300decreases so that the side signal formed between the first Tx electrodeTx1 adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2 and the conductive rod 300can increase. Similarly, when the second Tx electrode Tx2 is touched bythe conductive rod 300, the distance between the third Tx electrode Tx3adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2 and the conductive rod 300decreases so that the side signal formed between the third Tx electrodeTx3 adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2 and the conductive rod 300can increase.

Consequently, according to various exemplary embodiments, when thesecond Tx electrode Tx2 is touched by the conductive rod 300, the sidesignal formed between the conductive rod 300 and each of the first andthird Tx electrodes Tx1 and Tx3 adjacent to the second Tx electrode Tx2increases so that a continuously performed touch input can be accuratelyrecognized. Accordingly, the touch recognition rate of the touch sensorlayer 210 according to various exemplary embodiments can be improved.

Hereinafter, a side signal and a variation in mutual capacitanceaccording to a change in width of a sub-touch electrode will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Here, the side signal maymean a mutual capacitance formed between a sub-touch electrode adjacentto one sub-touch electrode and a conductive rod when the one sub-touchelectrode is touched by the conductive rod, and the variation in mutualcapacitance may mean a variation in mutual capacitance according to atouch of a user.

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating side signal of a sub-touch electrodeadjacent to one sub-touch electrode according to change in width of theone sub-touch electrode according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14 isa graph illustrating variation in capacitance between one sub-touchelectrode and a second touch electrode according to change in width ofthe one sub-touch electrode according to an exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 13, numerals indicated on the horizontal axis of the graphrepresent widths of one sub-touch electrode included in a first touchelectrode, and numerals indicated on the vertical axis of the graphrepresent side signals according to change in width of the one sub-touchelectrode. In FIG. 14, numerals indicated on the horizontal axis of thegraph represent widths of one sub-touch electrode included in a firsttouch electrode, and numerals indicated on the vertical axis of thegraph represent variations dCm in capacitance between the one sub-touchelectrode and a second touch electrode adjacent thereto.

First, referring to FIG. 13, as the width of one sub-touch electrode,e.g., a second sub-touch electrode (see STE2/Tx2 of FIG. 12)(hereinafter, referred to as a “second Tx electrode”) increases, a sidesignal at one second sub-touch electrode (see STE2/Tx3 of FIG. 12)(hereinafter, referred to as a “third Tx electrode”) adjacent to thesecond Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 when the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 istouched may increase.

In an exemplary embodiment, the width of a second touch electrode (seeTE2 of FIG. 12) that constitutes one unit sensor (see US of FIG. 12)together with the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may be 1800 μm regardlessof a change in width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2. When the widthof the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 1800 μm that is equal to thewidth of the second touch electrode TE2, a side signal at a third Txelectrode STE2/Tx3 adjacent to the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may beset to a reference value Ref. In this case, the third Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx3 may have a width equal to that of the second Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx2.

If the width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 2200 μm, the widthof the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may be approximately 1.6 timeslarger than that of the second touch electrode TE2. In this case, it canbe seen that the side signal at the third Tx electrode STE2/Tx3 adjacentto the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is measured as a value that isapproximately three times larger than the reference value Ref.

In addition, when the width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 2600μm, the width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may be approximately2.6 times larger than that of the second touch electrode TE2. In thiscase, it can be seen that the side signal at the third Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx3 adjacent to the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is measured as avalue that is approximately eight times larger than the reference valueRef.

Consequently, it can be seen that, as the width of the second Txelectrode STE2/Tx2 becomes larger than that of the second touchelectrode TE2, the side signal at the third Tx electrode STE2/Tx3adjacent to the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 increases.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 14, as the width of the second Txelectrode STE2/Tx2 becomes larger than that of the second touchelectrode TE2, a variation dCm in mutual capacitance formed between thesecond Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 and the second touch electrode TE2 maydecrease. The variation dCm in mutual capacitance according to a changein width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 will be described asfollows.

When the width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 1800 μm that isequal to the width of the second touch electrode TE2, a variation dCm inmutual capacitance formed between the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 andthe second touch electrode TE2 may be set to a reference value Ref.

When the width of second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 2200 μm, the width ofthe second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may be approximately 1.6 times largerthan that of the second touch electrode TE2. In this case, it can beseen that the variation dCm in mutual capacitance formed between thesecond Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 and the second touch electrode TE2 ismeasured equal to the reference value Ref.

In addition, when the width of second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is 2600 μm,the width of the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 may be approximately 2.6times larger than that of the second touch electrode TE2. In this case,it can be seen that the variation dCm in mutual capacitance formedbetween the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 and the second touch electrodeTE2 is measured smaller than the reference value Ref.

In an exemplary embodiment, as the width of second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2becomes larger than that of the second touch electrode TE2, thevariation dCm in mutual capacitance formed between the second Txelectrode STE2/Tx2 and the second touch electrode TE2 may decrease. Thedecrease in the variation dCm corresponds to about 10% or less of thereference value Ref, which has no significant influence on the touchrecognition rate of the touch sensor layer (see 210 of FIG. 6).

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor layer according to anexemplary embodiment. FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of region EA3_1 ofFIG. 15 according to an exemplary embodiment. Differences from theabove-described touch sensor layer will be mainly described to avoidredundancy. Portions not particularly described in association withFIGS. 15 and 16 follow those of the previously described touch sensorlayer. In addition, identical reference numerals refer to identicalcomponents, and similar reference numerals refer to similar components.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the touch sensor layer 210 may include abase layer BL including a sensing region SA and a non-sensing regionNSA, first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 provided in the sensingregion SA, and sensing lines SL connected to the first to fourth sensorcolumns SC1 to SC4. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing lines SL mayinclude first sensing lines SL1, second sensing lines SL2, and thirdsensing lines SL3.

Each of the first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may include afirst touch sensor column (see TSC1 of FIG. 9) having first touchelectrodes TE1 and a second touch sensor column (see TSC2 of FIG. 9)having second touch electrodes TE2 adjacent to the first touch electrodeTE1. The first touch sensor column TSC1 and the second touch sensorcolumn TSC2 may be alternately disposed in the sensing region SA.Accordingly, the first touch electrodes TE1 and the second touchelectrode TE2 may be alternately disposed in the sensing region SA.

The first touch electrode TE1 may include first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3. Each of the first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may be connected to a correspondingfirst sensing line SL1. The second touch electrode TE2 may be connectedto a corresponding second sensing line SL2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the size of each of the first to thirdsub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 and the size of the secondtouch electrode TE2 may be designed to be different from each other. Thefirst to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 disposed oneach of the first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may be designed tohave different sizes.

As shown in FIG. 16, the second touch electrode TE2 may have a firstwidth W1 in a second direction DR2. A second sub-touch electrodeSTE2/Tx1 (hereinafter, referred to as a “first Tx electrode”) disposedon the first sensor column SC1 may have a second width W2 in the seconddirection DR2, a second sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx2 (hereinafter,referred to as a “second Tx electrode”) disposed on the second sensorcolumn SC2 may have a third width W3 in the second direction DR2, asecond sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx3 (hereinafter, referred to as a“third Tx electrode”) disposed on the third sensor column SC3 may have afourth width W4 in the second direction DR2, a second sub-touchelectrode STE2/Tx4 (hereinafter, referred to as a “fourth Tx electrode”)disposed on the fourth sensor column SC4 may have a fifth width W5 inthe second direction DR2. The first to fifth widths W1 to W5 may bedifferent from one another. For example, the fifth width W5 may belargest, and the first width W1 may be smallest. Therefore, when viewedon a plane, the fourth Tx electrode STE2/Tx4 disposed most adjacent tothe right side of the sensing region SA may have the largest width, andthe second touch electrode TE2 disposed most adjacent to the left sideof the sensing region SA may have the smallest width. In other words,the widths may gradually increase from the left side of the touch sensorlayer 210 to the right side of the touch sensor layer 210.

The first width W1 may be half of the second width W2 or may be half orless of the fifth width W5. For example, the ratio of the first width W1to the second width W2 may be approximately 1:1.6, the ratio of thefirst width W1 to the third width W3 may be approximately 1:1.8, thewidth of the first width W1 to the fourth width W4 may be approximately1:2, and the ratio of the first width W1 to the fifth width W5 may beapproximately 1:2.6. In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the firstwidth W1 to each of the second to fifth widths W2 to W5 may beapproximately 1:1.6 to 1:2.6.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, it is illustrated that, among the sub-touchelectrodes provided in the touch sensor layer 210, sub-touch electrodesdisposed on the fourth sensor column SC4 have the largest width andsub-touch electrodes disposed on the first touch sensor column SC1 havethe smallest width, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, the sub-touch electrodes provided in the touch sensor layer 210may be designed such that sub-touch electrodes disposed on the firstsensor column SC1 have the largest width and sub-touch electrodesdisposed on the fourth touch sensor column SC4 have the smallest width.In addition, the sub-touch electrodes provided in the touch sensor layer210 may be designed such that sub-touch electrodes disposed on each ofthe second and third sensor columns SC2 and SC3 have the largest width.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-touch electrodes disposed on each ofthe first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may have various shapeswithin a range where one sub-touch electrode has a width larger thanthat of one second touch electrode TE2 that constitute a unit sensor UStogether with the one sub-touch electrode.

When the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is touched by a conductive rod(see FIG. 12), a side signal may be formed between the conductive rod300 and each of Tx electrodes adjacent to the second Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx2, e.g., the first Tx electrode STE2/Tx1 and the third Txelectrode STE2/Tx3. The side signal may include a mutual capacitancebetween the conductive rod 300 and the first Tx electrode STE2/Tx1 and amutual capacitance between the conductive rod 300 and the third Txelectrode STE2/Tx3 when the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is touched bythe conductive rod 300. The side signal may increase when the distancebetween one Tx electrode touched by the conductive rod 300 and Txelectrodes adjacent thereto decreases.

According to various exemplary embodiments, each of the first to fourthTx electrodes STE2/Tx1 to STE2/Tx4 may be designed to have a widthlarger than that of a second touch electrode TE2 adjacent thereto. Thus,the side signal formed between a Tx electrode adjacent to one Txelectrode and the conductive rod 300 when the one Tx electrode istouched by the conductive rod 300 can increase. When the side signalincreases, a touch input of the conductive rod 300, which iscontinuously performed, is recognized without stop so that the accuracyof a touch recognition rate can be improved. Accordingly, the touchrecognition rate of the touch sensor layer 210 can be improved.

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor layer according to anexemplary embodiment. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of region EA4 of FIG.17 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 19 is a sectional viewtaken along line III-III′ of FIG. 18 according to an exemplaryembodiment. Differences from the above-described touch sensor layerswill be mainly described to avoid redundancy. Portions not particularlydescribed in association with FIGS. 17 to 19 follow those of theabove-described touch sensor layers. In addition, identical referencenumerals refer to identical components, and similar reference numeralsrefer to similar components.

Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19, the touch sensor layer 210 may include abase layer BL including a sensing region SA and a non-sensing regionNSA, first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 provided in the sensingregion SA, and sensing lines SL connected to the first to fourth sensorcolumns SC1 to SC4.

Each of the first to fourth sensor columns SC1 to SC4 may include afirst touch sensor column (see TSC1 of FIG. 9) having first touchelectrodes TE1 and a second touch sensor column (see TSC2 of FIG. 9)having second touch electrodes TE2 adjacent to the first touchelectrodes TE1.

The first touch electrode TE1 may include first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3. Each of the first to third sub-touchelectrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 may be connected to a correspondingfirst sensing line SL1. The second touch electrode TE2 may be connectedto a corresponding second sensing line SL2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the size of each of the first to thirdsub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3 and the size of the secondtouch electrode TE2 may be designed to be different from each other. Forexample, the size of the second touch electrode TE2 may be smaller thanthat of each of the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, andSTE3. Here, the first to third sub-touch electrodes STE1, STE2, and STE3may have the same size.

The second touch electrode TE2 may have a first width W1 in a seconddirection DR2. A second sub-touch electrode STE2 disposed adjacent tothe second touch electrode TE2 may have a second width W2 in the seconddirection DR2. The first width W1 and the second width W2 may bedifferent from each other. For example, the first width W1 may besmaller than the second width W2. The first width W1 may beapproximately half of the second width W2, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the ratio of the first width W1 to thesecond width W2 may be approximately 1:1.6 to 1:2.6. In an exemplaryembodiment, it is illustrated that only the second sub-touch electrodeSTE2 has the second width W2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.Like the second sub-touch electrode STE2, the first and third sub-touchelectrodes STE1 and STE3 may also be designed to have the second widthW2.

In FIG. 18, a second sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx1 (hereinafter, referredto as a “first Tx electrode”) disposed on the first sensor column SC1, asecond sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx2 (hereinafter, referred to as a“second Tx electrode”) disposed on the second sensor column SC2, asecond sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx3 (hereinafter, referred to as a“third Tx electrode”) disposed on the third sensor column SC3, and asecond sub-touch electrode STE2/Tx4 (hereinafter, referred to as a“fourth Tx electrode”) disposed on the fourth sensor column SC4 may havethe same width. That is, the first to fourth Tx electrodes STE2/Tx1 toSTE2/Tx4 may have the second width W2 in the second direction DR2.

Each of the first to fourth Tx electrodes STE2/Tx1 to STE2/Tx4 mayinclude a first region A1 and a second region A2, which are electricallyseparated from each other. For instance, the second region A2 may be anopening in the first region A1. One of the first region A1 and thesecond region A2 may be provided inside the other of the first region A1and the second region A2. For example, the second region A2 may bedisposed inside the first region A1, and may be electrically separatedfrom the first region A1. When viewed on a plane, the first region A1may have a shape surrounding the second region A2. That is, the secondregion A2 may have an isolated island shape surrounded by the firstregion A1.

The first region A1 may have the second width W2 in the second directionDR2, and the second region A2 may have a third width W3 in the seconddirection DR2. The second width W2 and the third width W3 may bedifferent from each other. For example, the second width W2 may belarger than the third width W3. In addition, the third width W3 may belarger than the first width W1, but the disclosure is not limitedthereto. For example, the third width W3 may be equal to or smaller thanthe first width W1.

Each of the first region A1 and the second region A2 may be configuredwith four sides. A distance W4 between an upper side of the first regionA1 and an upper side of the second region A2, a distance W5 between alower side of the first region A1 and a lower side of the second regionA2, a distance W6 between a left side of the first region A1 and a leftside of the second region A2, and a distance W7 between a right side ofthe first region A1 and a right side of the second region A2 may beequal to one another, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 19, the first to fourth Tx electrodes STE2/Tx1 toSTE2/Tx4 each including the first region A1 and the second region A2 maybe provided on the base layer BL. In an exemplary embodiment, the baselayer BL may be an inorganic layer disposed as the uppermost layer ofthe thin film encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel 100.

When the second Tx electrode STE2/Tx2 is touched by a conductive rod(see FIG. 12), a side signal may be formed between the conductive rod300 and each of Tx electrodes adjacent to the second Tx electrodeSTE2/Tx2, e.g., the first Tx electrode STE2/Tx1 and the third Txelectrode STE2/Tx3. The side signal may increase when the distancebetween one Tx electrode touched by the conductive rod 300 and Txelectrodes adjacent thereto decreases.

According to various exemplary embodiments, each of the first to fourthTx electrodes STE2/Tx1 to STE2/Tx4 may be designed to have a widthlarger than that of a second touch electrode TE2 that constitute oneunit sensor US. Thus, the side signal formed between a Tx electrodeadjacent to one Tx electrode and the conductive rod 300 when the one Txelectrode is touched by the conductive rod 300 can increase. When theside signal increases, a touch input of the conductive rod 300, which iscontinuously performed, is recognized without stop so that the accuracyof a touch recognition rate can be improved. Accordingly, the touchrecognition rate of the touch sensor layer 210 can be improved.

The display device DD according to various exemplary embodiments can beemployed in various electronic devices. For example, the display devicecan be applicable to televisions, notebook computers, cellular phones,smart phones, smart pads, personal media players (PMPs), personaldigital assistants (PDAs), navigation devices, various wearable devices,such as smart watches, and the like.

According to various exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide atouch sensor capable of improving a touch recognition rate and a displaydevice including the touch sensor.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concepts are notlimited to such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of thepresented claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensor comprising: a base layercomprising a sensing region and a non-sensing region; first touch sensorcolumns extending in a first direction, the first touch sensor columnscomprising first touch electrodes, the first touch electrodes comprisingsub-touch electrodes in the sensing region; second touch sensor columnscomprising second touch electrodes in the sensing region, the secondtouch sensor columns being alternately arranged with the first touchsensor columns; and sensing lines in the non-sensing region, the sensinglines comprising: first sensing lines electrically connected to thesub-touch electrodes; and second sensing lines electrically connected tothe second touch electrodes, wherein the sub-touch electrodes and thesecond touch electrodes have different widths.
 2. The touch sensor ofclaim 1, wherein: the sub-touch electrodes have first widths along asecond direction; the second direction intersects the first direction;the second touch electrodes have second widths along the seconddirection; and each first width among the first widths is greater thaneach second width among the second widths.
 3. The touch sensor of claim2, wherein each first width among the first widths is equivalent.
 4. Thetouch sensor of claim 2, wherein some of the first widths are different.5. The touch sensor of claim 4, wherein each of the sub-touch electrodeshas a width different from that of a sub-touch electrode disposedadjacent thereto along the second direction.
 6. The touch sensor ofclaim 1, wherein: each first touch electrode comprises a group of i (ibeing a natural number of 2 or more) sub-touch electrodes sequentiallyarranged in the first direction; and each sub-touch electrode of a groupis electrically connected to a sub-touch electrode of another groupthrough a first sensing line among the first sensing lines, the groupbeing adjacent to the another group along the first direction.
 7. Thetouch sensor of claim 6, further comprising: a pad unit disposed in thenon-sensing region, the pad unit being electrically connected to each ofthe first sensing lines and the second sensing lines; and contact linesdisposed in the non-sensing region, the contact lines electricallyconnecting the first sensing lines with the pad unit.
 8. The touchsensor of claim 7, wherein: each of the second touch sensor columnscomprises q (q being a natural number of 2 or more) second touchelectrodes; and each second touch electrode is electrically connected tothe pad unit through a second sensing line among the second sensinglines.
 9. The touch sensor of claim 2, wherein: each of the sub-touchelectrodes comprises a first region and a second region electricallyseparated from the first region; and one of the first region and thesecond region is disposed inside the other of the first region and thesecond region.
 10. The touch sensor of claim 9, wherein, along thesecond direction, a width of the first region is greater than eachsecond width among the second widths.
 11. The touch sensor of claim 1,wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes aredisposed in the same layer.
 12. A display device comprising: a displaypanel; and a touch sensor disposed on at least one surface of thedisplay panel, wherein the touch sensor comprises: a base layercomprising a sensing region and a non-sensing region; first touch sensorcolumns extending in a first direction, the first touch sensor columnscomprising first touch electrodes, the first touch electrodes comprisingsub-touch electrodes in the sensing region; second touch sensor columnscomprising second touch electrodes in the sensing region, the secondtouch sensor columns being alternately arranged with the first touchsensor columns; and sensing lines in the non-sensing region, the sensinglines comprising first sensing lines electrically connected to thesub-touch electrodes, and second sensing lines electrically connected tothe second touch electrodes, wherein the sub-touch electrodes and thesecond touch electrodes have different widths.
 13. The display device ofclaim 12, wherein: the sub-touch electrodes have first widths along asecond direction; the second direction intersects the first direction;the second touch electrodes have second widths along the seconddirection; and each first width among the first widths is greater thaneach second width among the second widths.
 14. The display device ofclaim 13, wherein each first width among the first widths is equivalent.15. The display device of claim 13, wherein some of the first widths aredifferent.
 16. The display device of claim 15, wherein each of thesub-touch electrodes has a width different from that of a sub-touchelectrode disposed adjacent thereto along the second direction.
 17. Thedisplay device of claim 13, wherein: each of the sub-touch electrodescomprises a first region and a second region electrically separated fromthe first region; and one of the first region and the second region isdisposed inside the other of the first region and the second region. 18.The display device of claim 17, wherein, along the second direction, awidth of the first region is greater than each second width among thesecond widths.
 19. The display device of claim 12, wherein the firsttouch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are disposed in thesame layer on an upper surface of the display panel.
 20. The displaydevice of claim 12, wherein: each first touch electrode comprises agroup of i (i being a natural number of 2 or more) sub-touch electrodessequentially arranged in the first direction; each sub-touch electrodeof a group is electrically connected to a sub-touch electrode of anothergroup through a first sensing line among the first sensing lines, thegroup being adjacent to the another group along the first direction; andeach of the second touch sensor columns comprises q (q being a naturalnumber of 2 or more) second touch electrodes, each second touchelectrode among the second touch electrodes being electrically connectedto a pad unit through a second sensing line among the second sensinglines.